TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: All is not hunky dory in the Atanasio Monserrate camp with many corporators not comfortable with his decision to go with the BJP in the Corporation of the City of Panaji mayoral elections slated for March 20. The only meeting held with his corporators, saw many flaying his decision to support the BJP led panel with some feeling that they should sit in the Opposition instead of making such a deal, sources said.
However, except for a few of his die hard supporters, others are questioning the logic of supporting the BJP at the mayor’s polls given that the elections are a year away and they anticipate hurdles in carrying out development works and prefer to remain in Opposition. Thursday will be crucial as the final decision will be taken at a meeting with Monserrate and will decide whether the kingmaker will manage to rein in his men and ensure that his writ runs or whether he is forced to listen to them.
Monserrate, the Taleigao strongman and St Cruz MLA had turned against the Mayor of his own panel during the recent Panjim Assembly by polls after Mayor Surendra Furtado threw his hat in the ring and ultimately got the Congress ticket to the chagrin of his panel’s mentor Babush who was also making preparations to contest from Panjim. Babush who has been since expelled from the party for anti party activities, worked against Furtado in the elections. Thereafter he had said that his panel would support the BJP in the mayoral contest. The name of BJP corporator Shubam Chodankar had come up for the mayor’s post with first time corporator Edward George from the Babush panel, projected as the deputy.
Among the 30 CCP corporators, Babush backed panel has 14 members – down two from the 16 that won under his banner in 2011, while the BJP too has 14 members and the husband-wife duo of Surendra and Ruth make up the balance.
The Babush panel had scraped through to win the Panaji Corporation poll by getting a wafer thin majority of 16 in the 30ward CCP. With the BJP-backed panel winning 12 seats and two independents – Surendra Furtado and his wife Ruth retaining their seats as independents.
However, two Babush backed corporators Tony Rodrigues and Carolina Po switched sides allowing BJP backed corporator Vaidehi Naik to become Mayor backed by the two independents.
However, things turned and in 2013, the two made a deal with Babush and Surendra became Mayor after a hard fought bargain. Furtado enjoyed two terms as a mayor before things have soured between him and Monserrate.
The next mayor will have to sort out the issues of pay parking, garbage and the cleaning of the St Inez creek.
